Sudhir Chakravarti and Folk Song: Opening Up a Different Way in the Field of Research on Folk Culture and Literary History

We know that India is a country of spiritual understanding.There are different layers of meaning imposed regarding religion.Sudhir Chakravarti chose this field for his research work, which did not focus on the people and life of mainstream society.Instead, the people and their songs are of prime interest.In the initial stages, it was not very easy to communicate with the people.This journey was actually very challenging.He stepped out of his circle and immersed himself in a group of ordinary people.The search for man is, in fact, a search for 'manush ratan dhan' (man is most valuable).This critical approach not only helps us understand spiritual understanding and the multiple layers of religion but also allows us to think deeply about the social, political, economic, and cultural history of that time.It brings out the voice of protest against the upper class of society.These artists, along with their songs and performances, were totally neglected by the ruling power of the time.He has worked with the communities of Sahebdhani and Bala Hari.After 1970, Sudhir Chakravarti has travelled through various districts of West Bengal, namely Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Burdwan, Bankura, and Purulia.The focus of this article is to illustrate the literary lapses and contributions of Sudhir Chakravarti in the field of literature.